asked the Taoiseach the total number of people who have emigrated since April, 1966.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration Statistics.
4.
As has been explained on previous occasions figures of gross emigration are not available, while accurate figures of net emigration, that is the excess of the number of emigrants over that of immigrants, are available only for the periods between Censuses of Population.
For periods subsequent to the last Census of Population, namely that taken in April, 1966, the only indicators available of net emigration are the figures for net outward passenger movement by sea and air. However, the passenger balance figures do not take account of cross-Border movement; they are derived as the differences between the very large aggregates of the outward and inward passenger movement figures which themselves contain some margin of error, the overall level of which is unknown, and must be regarded as providing only a rough guide as to the level of net emigration.
In the 1961-66 inter-censal period the aggregate net outward passenger movement by sea and air was about 45 per cent larger than net emigration in the same period. If one makes the assumption that net emigration, in the period 1st April to 31st March, in later years bears the same ratio to the net passenger movement by sea and air as for the 1961-66 inter-censal period, it may be estimated that net emigration in the years to April, 1967 and 1968, amounted to 15,000 and 18,000 persons respectively.
Is the Taoiseach aware that on 17th May, 1966, he gave me figures which showed that 329,000 people emigrated in the previous seven years? If he adds the figure he has given now he will find that 373,000 people have emigrated since 1956. Does the Taoiseach intend to do anything about this?
I have not got the figures referred to by the Deputy with me.
On 17th May, 1966——
I can look them up myself.
Does the Taoiseach intend to do anything about it in view of the fact that we were promised in the past that even those who had emigrated to the United States would be brought back and given work here?
That was in 1948. The people were brought back from England and there was no work.
They were brought back and stayed here until the dead hand of the Fianna Fáil Party descended on the country again. We know what happened then; they had to emigrate again.